God is Love. God is Holy

Matthew 24:48-51 “But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
 
THIS is the first of three judgment parables Jesus speaks in the Olivet Discourse. The other two follow consecutively in Matthew 25. Each parable echoes the judgment words “weeping and gnashing of teeth”. This grotesque picture of grief and punishment speaks of the Lord Jesus rejecting those who neglect his teachings and his people. He calls unbelievers “wicked, lazy and worthless.” Can you imagine the Lord Jesus speaking such words to you? How would you respond to such judgment? According to Jesus’ parables, there is no response. Once the Christ has come, there is no way to salvation. If he spoke this way to you on Judgment Day, you are on your way to Hell.
   This is the line between God’s love and his holiness. God loves the world because he created it in love to be a glorious place of joy for mankind. All people, then, are formed under his providence. The Bible repeatedly demonstrates his love as he desires to abundantly provide for his own. His love sends down his grace to save us from Hell. His love teaches us who he is and reveals to us the way to Heaven. God’s love is a foundational substance to the Kingdom of God.
   Holiness is another foundational Kingdom substance. Holiness is perfection. Sin is an enemy to the Holy God. Perfection cannot tolerate sin. God cannot allow any deviation from his perfection. Otherwise he would not be holy.
   That is the reason for the cross. We cannot be holy on our own. The Father needed to make us holy, so he could make a room for us in heaven. Jesus had to take our sins to the sacrificial altar, so we will be holy with him. Paul sums it well in Ephesians 1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. And 1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (from Leviticus 11:44-45)
   From the beginning of the law to the fulfilment of grace, God’s love and holiness is evident to all who listen and see what the Lord God is doing. There is no excuse to be away from God when he comes. Everything he requires is plain for all to know. Hearts that are alert to God’s love and holiness will be prepared for Jesus’ judgment.